‘Complete vanity project’ £12m council office complex to be sold
COUNCIL chiefs have agreed to sell off its headquarters in Clevedon – branding it the ‘biggest waste of taxpayers money ever.’ North Somerset Council agreed to sell off its Castlewood office complex at its annual meeting this week.
The authority, then under Conservative control, purchased Castlewood in 2010 at a cost of £12.6 million. Last year the new administration undertook a review of its assets and deemed the site, the former home of Clerical Medical, surplus to requirements.
The office complex has been a primary site for a number of services since the council moved in more than a decade ago. But it was largely closed during the pandemic, is inefficient, has a maintenance backlog and would cost £1.1million a year to keep open.
The move will see staff vacate the premises and the council remodel its other headquarters at the town hall in Weston-super-Mare. The former administration borrowed the money to buy the office complex and then spent millions on remodelling it.
It is understood there is millions still outstanding in borrowing on the site – much more than it is likely the council will recoup if sold. Councillor Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council executive member for placemaking and economy said: “The previous administration spent £12.6 million on buying Castlewood and then several million in making it suitable for use.
“It was a complete vanity project and one of the worst decisions the council has made in more than 40 years. This purchase has cost the taxpayer a huge amount of money which will never be recouped.
“We spoke against it at the time, but it was forced through. If we wanted to re-let it, it would cost a vast amount of money as it does not meet requirements
“Since it has been in the council’s
ownership, it has never been able to let all the space. The income has never come in and we have been left with two big offices at a time, when as an organisation, we are trying to streamline.
“The ridiculous thing is that 80 per cent of the staff based at Clevedon actually travel in from Westonsuper-Mare. This makes no sense whatsoever. Not only is it bad for the environment, it also clogs up an already busy road network. This administration has been left to clear this mess up.”
It is also understood that the site has a number of covenants on it restricting development, although it is possible these could be removed ahead of any sale. “We are only around half way through the mortgage term. It was a 20-year term when it was purchased,” added Mr Canniford.
“I’m sure everyone would agree that the council’s money is better spent on other things for the benefit of the residents of North Somerset rather than on unnecessary and inefficient offices. It was a shocking, shocking deal and it will be the taxpayers picking up the bill.”
The Castlewood site also accounts for almost 20 per cent of the council’s energy use and approximately 40 per cent of the net annual costs of the building are related to energy usage at the site. These costs are expected to face significant price inflation in coming years.
Following the agreement to sell Castlewood off, officers will develop options for the future of the site. These could include homes, space for business or a mixed-use development.
Local people have already suggested a number of uses for the site from a new hospital for the town to social housing. Residents can also have an early say on the future of the site by giving their views as part of the council’s current consultation on a development programme for land it owns.
People can take part in the consultation at www.n-somerset.gov. uk/nscsites.